Marchers demand reopening of Bosnia's last steel mill

Hundreds of workers marched through Bosnia's central city of Zenica on Friday, protesting against ​the closure of the country’s last steel mill ‌which they said marked the end of an era of heavy industry.

Last week's shutdown of the 130-year-old Zenica Steel ​Factory put thousands of jobs at risk across ​the sector, protesters said, and followed on the ⁠heels of the closure of Lukavac coke factory ​in February.

"Zenica does not exist without the Zenica steel ​factory," marcher Avdija Halilović told Reuters as demonstrators blew whistles, carried union flags and shouted slogans demanding the reopening of the plant.

Bosnia's ​Pavgord Group, which bought the plant from ArcelorMittal last ​year, blamed the closure last month on logistical problems, cheaper imported ‌steel ⁠and what it said was the government's failure to bring in measures to protect the industry.

It was not immediately available for more comment on Friday, the ​May Day ​public holiday.

Bosnia's ⁠Bosniak-Croat federation prime minister, Nermin Niksic, said on Thursday the regional government was interested ​in taking over ownership of the plant ​and ⁠helping it continue production, the N1 news website reported.

Further pressure came this week when the Nova Ljubija iron ⁠ore ​mines, another key supplier to ​the steel mill, filed for bankruptcy, affecting nearly 600 workers.

- Reuters